Take a photo of a barcode or cover
jennygr4 's review for:
The Fourteenth Goldfish
by Jennifer L. Holm
I decided to read this book because it was one of the candidates for this year's Global Read Aloud. I had my fourth grade class in mind while reading, and I think it would be a good fit for that age audience.
Ellie lives with her mom and sees her dad on occasion. One day, Ellie's mom comes home late with a teenage boy who is revealed to actually be Ellie's grandfather, Melvin. Melvin has discovered a way to reverse the aging process, but it's Ellie who gets him to consider the moral implications of such an invention.
While this book definitely had some strengths, it fell a little flat for me. The author hooked me at the beginning, but I didn't feel a real emotional connection to any of the characters. I read further hoping to see more relationships develop, but they didn't meet my expectations. I liked hearing the main character's thoughts, and I think my students will be able to relate to what this young lady is thinking and feeling. Even the climax of the story passed by in just a few pages. The end had a good message, and one I think my students could have a good discussion about. The events in the story moved pretty quickly, and I felt like I missed the opportunity to throughly get to know the characters. Specifically, I would have liked to have more focus and emphasis on Ellie and her grandfather.
With this book, the author has given me opportunities to make connections between literature, math, science, and ethics. There are many ways to use this book in other subjects, and I look forward to encouraging my students to think and learn more about scientists and the moral and ethical repercussions of inventions and discoveries. I think I'll go ahead and use the book this year for our Global Read Aloud, then it'll go on the shelf for students to browse.
Ellie lives with her mom and sees her dad on occasion. One day, Ellie's mom comes home late with a teenage boy who is revealed to actually be Ellie's grandfather, Melvin. Melvin has discovered a way to reverse the aging process, but it's Ellie who gets him to consider the moral implications of such an invention.
While this book definitely had some strengths, it fell a little flat for me. The author hooked me at the beginning, but I didn't feel a real emotional connection to any of the characters. I read further hoping to see more relationships develop, but they didn't meet my expectations. I liked hearing the main character's thoughts, and I think my students will be able to relate to what this young lady is thinking and feeling. Even the climax of the story passed by in just a few pages. The end had a good message, and one I think my students could have a good discussion about. The events in the story moved pretty quickly, and I felt like I missed the opportunity to throughly get to know the characters. Specifically, I would have liked to have more focus and emphasis on Ellie and her grandfather.
With this book, the author has given me opportunities to make connections between literature, math, science, and ethics. There are many ways to use this book in other subjects, and I look forward to encouraging my students to think and learn more about scientists and the moral and ethical repercussions of inventions and discoveries. I think I'll go ahead and use the book this year for our Global Read Aloud, then it'll go on the shelf for students to browse.